Fixture support



Oct; 1, 1929. H. D'OLIER. JR

, FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed Jan. 11, 1928 I INVENTOR fi emj Z7 0/10; J7: BY

\ %\W MTORNEY Patented Get. 1, 1929 HENRY DOLIER, 3a., or ianrnenronr,CONNECTICUT FIXTURE SUPPORT Application filed January 11, 1928.

This invention relates to fixture supports and is particularly adaptedfor use in supports for lighting fixtures, such as electric lightingfixtures depending from a ceiling 5 and which are usually characterizedby a member adapted to be secured to the ceiling permanently and havinga hanger to receive :1 depending chain at the lower end of which issecured and supported a lighting unit, such as an electric lamp and itsshade, reflector, or

other associated parts of a lighting unit.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a supporting devicefor such fixtures characterized by a link formed of wire bent 5 to forman elongated shank with an attaching loop at each end, one of said loopsbeing relatively long and formed with a free end of the wire bent towardsaid shank and backward along the shank, thereby constituting a resil-2o ient hook upon which can be readily snapped a link of the supportingchain but which prevents casual displacement of said chain therefrom,the other loop being formed with an opening adapting said link to bereadily connected and disconnected from a co-operating eye or loop whichconstitutes the hanger already mentioned.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a link member incombination with a section of tube surrounding the link and movablethereon along the axis of the link, so that the tube can cover the hookportion of the link, the tube being also adjustable to expose theresilient hook, to permit connection or disconnection with the chain,the relative size of the link and tube being preferably such that whenthe tube is adjusted to cover the hook, the loop at the other end of thelink will be exposed to permit ready connection and disconnection withthe supporting hanger.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a link and tubewith a canopy which can be moved slidingly upon the tube into a positionwhich permits the operator to observe the loop end as he applies thesame to a hanger or disconnects it therefrom, and which will also exposethe region 01 connection between the loop and hanger at certain timeswhen the chain is still in place Serial No. 245,832.

upon the hanger, for the purpose of making the connections between theelectrical conductors which are associated With such an electricalfixture support.

The above object and vother. objects of the invention are illustratedand described fully in the accompanying drawings and specification andare pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, V

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a complete electrical fixturesupport embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is adetail View in perspective partly in Tection showing certainparts on a larger sca e.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of a link of special construction constitutingpart of the invention.

Fig. 4: illustrates the mode of applying the chain to the link beforethe tube is placed on the link.

I In the now preferred embodiment of the invention selected forillustration and description, the part designated by the referencenumeral 1 is a supporting member adapted to be secured permanently -to aceiling, being shown in the instance illustrated as a well-known form ofelectrical outlet box, provided with a hanger 2 secured suitably to thebase of the box, as by riveting the shank of the hanger into the base ofthe box, or to a cap 18 adapted to be screwed on to the usual stud 19,or otherwise, the parts thus far described being of well-known form orof any suitable character.

' The part designated by the reference character 8 is a chain, adaptedto support a lighting unit comprising an electric lamp and socket 4, ashade holder 5, and a glass globe or shade 6, these parts being also ofwellknown form, and being merely illustrated by way of example of alighting fixture of the type which the invention is adapted to support.

In carrying the invention into efiect, a link is provided for thepurpose of connecting the chain 3 with the hanger 2, and-in itspreferred form this link, which is designated generally by the referencecharacter 7 is formed of a suitable length of wire bent to form a loopat each end, one of the loops being formed by bending an end of the wirearound to form the loop 8 and then bending the wire at 9 in substantialparallelism with the shank 10, the free end of the wire being bentbackward along the shank for a short distance at 11 in position to lieclosely .adjacent to the shank, thereby constituting a resilient hook 12which is adapted to permit the end link of the chain 3 to be easilysnapped upon the hook,'as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The hook thus formed serves to prevent casual displacement of the chainfrom the link, but can be sprung outward from the shank manually when itis desired to disconnect the chain from the link. The other end of thewire is bent to form a loop 14 which preferably is formed with anopening so that this loop can be readily connected and disconnected withthe loop or hook of the hanger.

' In further pursuance of the invention there is provided preferablywith a tube15 of adia-meter and length suitable to adapt the tube tosurround the shank of the link and to move readily down over the shankand the elongated lower loop into a position which surrounds the hook 12at that part of the link and aids to prevent casual displacement of thechain from the link. As shown the lower loop 8 may be of such acharacter as to limit this sliding movement of the tube, and said loop 8supports the tube 15.

WVhen in its lower position the tube is preferably so disposed as toexpose the upper loop in such a manner as to permit the same to bereadily applied to or disconnected from the hanger. When the canopy ispressed against the ceiling and the canopy screw fastened to the tubingwhich in turn is resting on the loop, a rigidness is given to the wholeconstruction.

In still further pursuance of the invention, there is preferablyprovided a canopy 16 having a neck portion 17 of a size suitable toengage the tube 15 snugly, and which may be readily secured in anadjusted position on the tube by suitable means such as a set screw 18.

When the canopy is in the upper position illustrated in Fig. 1, it isadapted to con ceal the region of connection between the link, the tube,and the hanger, and also to conceal the outlet box or other fixturesupport, and the electrical conductors 20 at the region of connectionbetween the leading-in wires or other electrical connecting devices andthe insulated conductors leading to the lamp. WVhen the canopy is moveddownward on the tube, the above mentioned parts are exposed forobservation or to permit a workman to complete the electricalconnections or to disconnect them, and also to permit the fixture to bereadily removed from the hanger.

The link above described constitutes a novel and compact member capableof being cheaply and strongly made from wire, and constitutes aseparately formed article of manufacture which can be easily installedin connection with existing ceiling boxes and aiiy special work thereon.

When combined with the tube and canopy, the link is pleasing inappearance, is strong and acts to support the lighting fixture firmly inthe desired position. It also constitutes a supporting device whichobviates the use of the complicated structure comprising threaded pipes,hickeys, and casting heretofore commonly employed for such .a supportingfunction in fixture supports.

I claim:

1. A support for lighting fixtures of the type characterized by a memberadapted to be secured to the ceiling and having a hanger to receivea'dependent chain adapted to support a lighting unit such as an electriclamp and its associated parts, said fixture support being furthercharacterized by a link member adapted to be readily connected removablywith said chain and hanger respectively, and a tube mounted slidingly onsaid link and adapted when in adjusted position to permit readyconnection and disconnection with said hanger.

2. A support for lighting fixtures-of the type characterized by amemberadapted to be secured to the ceiling and having a hanger to receive adependent chain adapted to support a lighting unit such as an electriclamp and its associated parts, said fixture support being furthercharacterized by a link member adapted to be readily connectedremova'bly with said chain and hanger respectively, and a tube mountedslidingly on said link and adapted when in adjusted position to permitready connection and disconnection with said hanger, but to preventcasual disconnection of said chain from said link, said tube beingadjustable to permit disconnection of said chain from said link attimes.

3. A support for lighting fixtures of the type characterized by a memberadapted to be secured to the ceiling and having a hanger to receive adependent chain adapted to support alighting unit such as an electriclamp and its associated parts, said fixture support li hting units andchains, without requiring being further characterized by a link member Ito the ceiling and having a hanger, a chain adapted to depend from saidhanger, a lighting unit comprising an electric lamp and its associatedparts, said fixture being further characterized by a link memberconnected removably with said chain and hanger respec tively, a tubemounted slidingly on said link and adapted when in adjusted position topermit ready connection and disconnection with said hanger, but toprevent casual disconnection of said chain from said link, said tubebeing adjustable to permit disconnection of said chain from said link attimes, and a canopy mounted slidingly on said tube.

5. A support for lighting fixtures of the type characterized by a memberadapted to be secured to the ceiling and having a hanger to receive adependent chain adapted to support a lighting unit such as an electriclamp and its associated parts, said fixture support being furthercharacterized by a link formed of wire bent to form an elongated shankwith an attaching loop at each end, one of said loops being relativelylong and formed with a free end of the wire bent toward said shank,

thereby constituting a resilient hook upon which a chain link can bereadily snapped, but which prevents casual displacement of said chaintherefrom, the other loop being formed with an opening adapting saidlink to be readily connected to, and disconnected from, said hanger, atube mounted slidingly on said link and adapted when in adjustedposition to permit ready connection and disconnection with said han'ger,but to prevent casual disconnection of said chain from said link, saidtube being adjustable to permit disconnection of said chain from saidlink at times, and a canopy mounted slidingly on said tube.

6. A link for fixture-supporting chains of the class described, saidlink being formed of wire bent to form an elongated shank with anattaching loop at each end, one of said loops being relatively long andformed with a free end of the wire bent toward said shank, therebyconstituting a resilient hook upon which a chain link can be readilysnapped, but which prevents casual displacement of said chain therefrom,and in combination with said link a tube adjustable slidingly over saidlink into position to surround said hook and into another position toexpose said hook.

7. A link for fixture-supporting chains of the class described, saidlink being formed of wire bent to form an elongated shank with anattaching loop at each end, one of said loops being relatively long andformed with a free end of the wire bent toward said shank, therebyconstituting a resilient hook upon which a chain link can be readilysnapped, but which prevents casual displacement of said chain therefrom,and in combination with said link a tube adjustable slidingly over saidlink into position to surround said In testimony whereof, I have signedthis specification.

HENRY DOLIER, JR.

